sandarac

From Latin sandaraca, from Ancient Greek σανδαράκη (sandarákē, “realgar”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈsændəɹæk/

sandarac (countable and uncountable, plural sandaracs)

1. (mineralogy, archaic) Realgar; red sulphide of arsenic.
2. (chemistry) A white or yellow resin obtained from a north African tree (Tetraclinis articulata), and pulverized for pounce; probably so called from a resemblance to the mineral.
   • 1789, Erasmus Darwin, The Loves of the Plants, J. Johnson, page 9:

     Sandarach is procured from common juniper; and incense from a juniper with yellow fruit.

   • 1952, L.F. Salzman, Building in England, page 171:

     Oil was also used for making varnish, by dissolving sandarac in it, and as the 'vernysshe' which appears so frequently in accounts was always bought by the pound, the term was evidently applied to the sandarac, or other similar resinous substance.

   • 2002, Victoria Finlay, Colour, Sceptre, published 2003, page 198:

     There would have been many gums and resins in these markets for our lute-maker to bind his wood with: sandarac resin from North African pines […] .

3. Any tree from the genus Tetraclinis.

• carandas

Borrowed from French sandaraque or Latin sandaraca.

sandarac n (uncountable)

1. (mineralogy) sandarac, realgar